Words By Jason Hortillas
Prepping for The Smoking Section sponsored Illmind mixtape party, we just wanted to give you a sneak preview to a joint off of the mixtape as well as some other treats. The digital mixtape Blaps,Rhymes & Life II will be dropping Read the rest of this entry »
When I originally wrote “Drags To Riches”, my piece on EZ-Splitz, I openly asked the creator to step forward and share the history on this ingenious product. These simple-yet-life-changing keychain blunt cutters have made their way into every convience store in my Metro area and coincidentally all of my friends’ pockets. Being the type of person who likes to buy instant lottery tickets and watches infomercials, I was extremely curious to learn who coined the radical idea that was about to save every greenskeeper time, frustration and a stale blunt…or three.
Kindly, the good folk at EZ-Splitz reached out to TSS and granted my wish.
Read as Scooby, the one of the minds behind the EZ-Splitz, tells how he and his small team of ambitious entrepreneurs have taken their product from a leafy revelation to a product that has made it’s way onto shelves in each of the fifty states. For a company that specializes in blunt products, the people at EZ-Splitz are pretty damn sharp.
TSS: What’s going on?
Scooby: How you doin’ B?
TSS: Good. Good. Why don’t you introduce yourself to the people and let them know your position you hold with EZ-Splitz?
Scooby: I go by Scooby. That’s a nickname. I‘m pretty much in sales and help in development. I came up with the idea, as far as developing it from another product that was out.
TSS: I’m gonna’ get more into the background of the product in a minute. But before I do that, why don’t you let everybody that’s reading this know exactly what EZ-Spltz are and what you’re doing for your customers.
Scooby: Okay Well, EZ-Splitz are cigar cutters that are used to make your own blunt wraps out of cigars. It’s basically a key-chain accessory that you slide a blunt, …er cigar through. It cuts it open down the middle, so that you can create your own blunt wrap for the use of better tobacco.
TSS: How long have y’all been making them?
Scooby: EZ-Spltz have been around since May maybe.
TSS: So, it’s relatively new then?
Scooby: Yeah, relatively new. It’s been around since right before the summer.
TSS: I’m from Detroit and I’ve seen EZ-Splitz all over the place. My boys all got ‘em. My friend’s dad actually has one on his keychain. So, obviously it’s something a lot of people want. My main man actually said that he was the one who invented them and he wants the credit. I’m sure you probably get all the time. So why don’t you tell us how the idea actually did come about?
Scooby: The idea actually came about from a rapper who was around a few years ago. But the design was totally different though. First of all, it was a lanyard piece that went around your neck. It was a piece of plastic with a storage space in it for it your tobacco. There was also a place where you put your lighter. On the side, there was a tube that you slide your cigar through that would cut it open. It was a completely other product & that was about three years ago. A friend brought the old one, we saw it and developed the idea and came out with the EZ-Split.
Looking at the idea, we took it and streamlined into something that would be more beneficial in size and carrying it around. A lot of people don’t want to wear something that big around their neck, so we cut it down to make it a keychain accessory. Ours was a keychain, which is very small and very compact. I do believe because the first one was made for the cigarillos and his first one was for the blunt. They didn’t even have cigarillos at the time. Ours was for the cigarillos.
TSS: It doesn’t surprise me at all that a rapper developed this. I wrote about how I was envious of the person who came up the product, so I’m curious, who was the rapper who came up the idea?
Scooby: The cigar cutter itself?
TSS: Well, the original idea. I mean, it’s like the American Dream to be sitting back with some blunts and think, “Man, I got this great idea…” and then turn it into a profit right quick, you know?
Scooby: To be honest with you, what happened was, it was a totally different design and we actually came up with the design for ours before we even knew about the other one. It was kind of odd. We were actually talking about doing the cigar cutters themselves and making it a keychain accessory. Then a friend brought in the other one. I’m not exactly sure the name of the rapper. But his was totally different than the one we had and we went ahead proceeded with ours.
TSS: Did you have a business background or were you like “Hey, this is it right here.”? Read the rest of this entry »
Josh Martinez is someone I should have spoken on a while ago.
Unlike a good majority of artists I learn about through blogs and word of mouth, this Portland-based musician was someone I had never heard mentioned. Ever. So, when I found him listed among the top Hip-Hop acts on the underrated M3Radio station, I was baffled upon further investigation. Aside from having a unique and diversified soundscape completely his own, a melodic combination of humor, sincerity and killer wit, his accolades make you ask, “Who the fuck is this guy, and why I haven’t I heard him?” Read the rest of this entry »
Short clip from Katie Couric’s All Access Grammy Special where she looks into the eyes of a “rapper” and “a gangster” to discuss his music, money & why he dropped the D from his name. Read the rest of this entry »
A. Pinks Feat. Skyzoo – On Fire
Anthony David – Gettin Up (Remix)
Raekwon Ghostface Killah & Crooked I – Yes Sir
Playaz Circle – Game and Money
Naledge & A. Pinks – God Body Flow (Prod. by Analogic)
…wonder no more. That Terrible Towel he’s waving should be enough of a clue.
Since his Bears are not on the field, Obama shifted his support to Pittsburgh but he’s doing so based on another allegiance. Read the rest of this entry »
Splash obviously tapped the vault & broke out another one. Ghost, Rae & Crook? Yep. Violins included as well. Coming off of Stenge-O-Matic of Anotha Level project called The Live & Direct Show.
Raekwon, Ghostface Killah & Crooked I – Yes Sir
Previously Posted — Raekwon & Ghostface Killah – Criminology 2
Monique Minor
‘Notorious’ Screenwriter Tapped To Adapt Run DMC Biography For The Screen [The Daily Swarm]
Lover’s Lane: Kimora + Djimon [C&D]
M.I.A. Goes to War [The Daily Beast]
This Is Better Than Watching MMA [Don Chavez]
Kanye Hackers Strike Again!!! [We Do It Right]
A Bad Day For Music On Wall Street [Hypebot]
Jadakiss Makes It Rain & Calls Out Broke Bloggers [Str8NYC]
Porn For People Who Aren’t Fucking [Flawless Hustle]
Understanding Why So Many Black Bloggers on That Ignorant Ish [Dream & Hustle]
Respect Our Fresh!
*Passes out bottles of Andre*
We made it, folks.
The Stanky Legg has made it mainstream. As the resident ignorant music appreciator around these parts, I can’t explain to you how happy this makes me. When these songs/crazes catch on, I feel like a young revolutionary, shunned by my people until everyone comes around slowly but surely.
Honestly, I can’t gloat too much about the Stanky Legg because I too initially shunned the movement because it was presented to me under questionable circumstances. I was at Read the rest of this entry »
Found in Gotty’s™ inbox from the homie JS…
Live from the Mohawk in Austin, TX, Proper Entertainment put on the Stop the Violence Tour with Mic Skillz, Hakim Green of Channel Live, and ZEALE. We are putting up videos from ZEALE’s set as well. The footage above is, of course, of KRS-One. Dude is 43 and still did a 90 minute set!
Word up. Who gives a damn albums when you can rock a crowd with a catalog full of classics. Kris Parker’s still going strong & one of those people you have to seen live before you die. Additional footage of “Sound of Da Police” after the break. Read the rest of this entry »
So Bubba Sparxxx finally dumped Ms. New Booty and hooked back up with Timbo. Read the rest of this entry »
Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. Airbrushed Scarface shirt. I-didn’t-eat-the-last-Little-Debbie-goofball pose. Dude’s obviously a corny Myspace rapper whose music doesn’t deserve the stream, right? Read the rest of this entry »
**Shots Fired** Read the rest of this entry »
Usually when I post something from The Rub, it’s normally some shit I swiped from Cosmo. However, this time it’s his Rub brethren DJ Eleven who dropped a musical treatment for how I feel about things right now. It’s cold & dreary outside and you have to have music to match. Eleven hooked up with Krudmart for the release of Winter Sadness, a “seasonal depression fueled” mixtape. This should help coast you through the end of January & into February. After that, Punxsutawney Phil should be making appearance soon after & we’ll be okay. Until then…
Tracklisting & link after the break. Read the rest of this entry »
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